Taking pictures of the set before the show starts- Page 3

[PJPan]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 11:32am

I always take a pic from my seat of the program with the stage in view (no flash) for my own show album. Has never been a problem. Quick snap and then phone gets turned off for the show.

I occasionally usher off-Bway and our policy is that we allow pics before the show, but as soon as the lights go down I am a damn control freak about phones being out.

Updated On: 3/13/14 at 11:32 AM

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 11:34am

"No photography with or without flash. Why don't people get this? and Once again if you want a quick snap shot fine. but to keep taking pictures of the same thing over and over is stupid."

Some might say the same about posting the same sentiment over and over as well.

No snark intended, but the above-quoted post is the fifth time you've said almost exactly the same thing.



Updated On: 3/13/14 at 11:34 AM

[Rainbowhigh23]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 11:56am

I've been able to snap a pic of the curtain or the set at certain shows, but only after I know that the ushers would allow it. Many times another patron will snap a pic and be immediately told there is no photography allowed - at Rock of Ages, though, over the summer my friend from Europe took a pic of the set about a half hour before the show started and one of the ushers acted as if he had caught a terrorist. I thought they were going to throw her out if she didn't delete the picture. I told the guy to calm himself down or I would get a manager because how he was acting was total overkill. I've been to almost every show on Broadway and they never act as heavy handed as he did. She meant no harm and would certainly put her phone away and not record the show. She didn't delete the picture and he left us alone after that. There were so many patrons taking pics before the show, getting up throughout the performance, swilling beer and acting rude and I didn't see that overkill method used with them. A simple "No photography allowed, ma'am." would have sufficed, like at every other show I've been to.

I've heard the announcements and know who I am but there are levels - if you obviously see someone recording the show illegally definitely step in with extreme prejudice; if it's just someone out for a good time and they want to snap a pic inside the theater, inform them of the rules and let it be. If it continues, then surely it's a problem.

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 11:57am

To add insult to injury, I jaywalked to the Winter Garden last night AND I took a picture of the boxing ring after the show. I could have been arrested twice in one night!

[brdway411]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 11:58am

Because people are not reading the posts and commenting on stuff I already answered for. They assumed I ran to the usher to tattle, when I politely asked her to stop and got jumped on by the boob of an usher in our section. Please let me know the next time you go to a show, and where your seats are. I will sit behind you and flash photo over and over while you are sitting there trying to read your Playbill and see how you like it. Trust me, you won't!

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 12:28pm

" Please let me know the next time you go to a show, and where your seats are. "

No, I don't think I will.

So you think somehow if people don't get your point after four repetitions, additional ones will help? It isn't that people haven't read your words, it's that they don't agree with them. Saying the same thing over and over is also annoying and does not help your case.

[Rainbowhigh23]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 12:42pm

I always do the picture of the Playbill and then upload it to Facebook for bragging rights, but always with the flash off and I make sure the ushers aren't around.

[brdway411]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 1:03pm

Boy, I miss going to the theater in the 70's and 80's when the memory and the Playbill was enough for people. There were no phones, no food allowed in the theater and people respected the rules and were polite to one another. That is all. Have a great day everyone. :)

[loliveve]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 1:05pm

I'm just curious-- but how did you post to BWW while at the show? I mean, did you use a smart phone? Because guess what? Then you were violating the law too.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 1:17pm

^^^OP has addressed that already:

"Now that I know that it is a law, I will be curtailing my cell phone use at the theater."

Still, it is a little hypocritical to post a rant like that on a cell phone three minutes before the show starts, and still bemoan the good old days before cellphones.

Updated On: 3/13/14 at 01:17 PM

[loliveve]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 1:29pm

ghostlight2- thanks for pointing that comment out, I missed it when scanning the comments.

So to the OP, sorry for the snarkiness.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 1:51pm

"Whether the rules are enforced properly or not by some random house manager or usher, the fact remains: Sets (and costumes, and music, and dialogue, etc.) are intellectual property. You cannot reproduce them in any way shape or form without permission of the set designer (or costume designer, composer, librettist, etc.)"

THIS^^^^^

And for all of you people bitching and complaining about the audience member making the complaint, shame on you for making them feel bad. One of the biggest problems in the world today is that people do whatever the hell they want, damn the rules. Besides, it's not just 'RULES', it's actually ILLEGAL.

So, if you are one of the people just sitting there, saying or doing nothing, then you are part of the problem.

[felipenor]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 1:52pm

Why would someone in the audience ask people to stop taking pictures before the show? Why do they even care? Some people just act like they own the theater or something.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 1:55pm

Because it's illegal.

Would you not say anything if you saw someone shoplifting?

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 1:58pm

Yeah, that's very strange. I take one photo of the stage, and turn off my phone until I get outside. 99% of people don't mind, as long as its not a flash or anything.

"Boy, I miss going to the theater in the 70's and 80's when the memory and the Playbill was enough for people. There were no phones, no food allowed in the theater and people respected the rules and were polite to one another."

Times change, technology changes. However, most people do put their phones away, don't chomp on food, respect the rules and are polite to one another. I also think that people's lax dressing in the theater is disgusting. Have some respect and don't wear f*cking sweatpants. It's just a few people that always ruin it for everyone else.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 2:00pm

I miss the 80's where I used to pull the film out of peoples cameras when they took illegal pictures of productions I was working on.

[brdway411]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 2:04pm

^^^^ THIS!!!!

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 2:17pm

I think there would be a lot more support if this was about taking flash photos DURING the show.

It would make it seem a lot more "Get off of my lawn" in that case.

Times change, though. If you remember the time when there was a riot at a Guns and Roses concert, that was Axl jumping off the stage because someone was taking pictures of him and he jumped into the crowd and started punching the guy. Go to a concert now, and everyone is taking pictures.

I've never taken a picture of the set/curtain before a show, so I could care less about this issue. But I've seen people do it, offered to take a picture of both of them with the set in the background, etc., who cares? As long as they leave the camera in their pockets during the show...

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 2:26pm

You should do that in museums, too!

[brdway411]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 2:32pm

My problem was the repetition of the act with the flash, not the act itself. I could not care less if you want a quick snapshot. But 10 pictures flashing while trying to read is annoying. I could care less if you want to text, check in on FB, answer a text about how the kids are before the show. But taking multiple picture 10+ with flash while I was trying to read the Playbill and get in the mood of the show is ANNOYING. And when I asked her nicely to stop the usher jumped on me. If the flash was off I never would have been aware of it. Take all the photos you want. IT was the FLASH 10 times that I objected to. Also before, during or after does not change the fact it is not supposed to happen at all.

Updated On: 3/13/14 at 02:32 PM

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 2:51pm

"My problem was the repetition of the act with the flash, not the act itself. I could care less if you want a quick snapshot. But 10 pictures flashing while trying to read is annoying."

Maybe if you say that nineteen more times someone will be able to understand that you didn't like that someone took multiple flash photos or that the usher corrected you. I note that you take more issue with the fact that it was bothering you than the fact that it is illegal. I also think you mean you couldn't care less.

As to reporting something illegal? Not all crimes are equal. It personally doesn't bother me if someone snaps a photo as long as it isn't during the show, so I wouldn't report that, nor if I saw someone jaywalking. Shoplifting? Sure.

Updated On: 3/13/14 at 02:51 PM

[felipenor]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 4:11pm

"Because it's illegal.

Would you not say anything if you saw someone shoplifting?"

OK, I agree with you that shoplifting is wrong and shouldn't be done. But why do you think taking pictures of the curtain is wrong and should therefore be prohibited? Do you feel like the people taking pictures of the curtain might steal the show's secrets and diminish its profit?

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 4:19pm

The sets, costumes, show curtain, and so on are all PROTECTED by COPYRIGHT LAW. Because they are intellectual property.

If you have a problem with the law, go ahead and try to change it. Until then any UNAUTHORIZED photos of the sets/costumes/etc. are indeed illegal and thus against the law. The op had every right in the world to complain and say something. Many of you might not appreciate that, but you cannot fault someone for obeying the law.

Kudos.

[felipenor]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 4:24pm

That was not my question.

I'm quite sure many people here can't say they obey EVERY law, so I still wonder the reasons for them supporting this particular law.

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/13/14 at 4:38pm

^ you've got a strange way of reasoning right there son.

Updated On: 3/13/14 at 04:38 PM